Abstract: Many clinical diseases such as tumors and inflammation will cause the lack of oxygen supply, and some inflammatory processes such as orthodontic tooth movement is also process of ischemia and hypoxia, which will directly affect the normal metabolism of cells, and will seriously threaten life. Effective monitoring is very important to maintain normal cell physiological activities. There are many methods that have been used to determine tissue hypoxia, include microelectrodes, near-infrared spectroscopy, blood oxygenation level dependent magnetic resonance imaging, molecules induced by hypoxia and hypoxia sensitive fluorescent probe.Here we review the technologies, characteristics, applications, limitations and precautions of each approach, and make a horizontal comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Key words: hypoxia, tissue, fluorescent probe